alack Booking Agency on a Hot Streak WALTERS: IT'S A GREAT CONCERT YEAR cinnati. tis Blow, the Fat Boys and U.T.F.O., BY NELSON GEORGE Promoter Al Haymon, who is han- among the acts scheduled. Walters NEW YORK The Norby Walters dling the Budweiser, Michelob and raves that this was "a tremendously Agency, the industry's biggest Soft Sheen tours, is mixing acts lucrative tour all around the coun- black- oriented booking agency, is among these arena shows. A core try" last summer. The appearance on a hot streak. Black concert atten- roster of Teena Marie, Maze featur- of two rap films this summer should dance has been strong since last ing Frankie Beverly, the Commo- further enhance the music's appeal. summer, says agency president dores, Kool & the Gang, Midnight The Four Tops -Temptations tour, Norby Walters -who, with the sum- Star, the Whispers, Luther Van - on the road for two years, was "a mer touring season upcoming, sees dross, Shalamar, the Gap Band and great surprise," says Walters. 1985 as a "spectacular year for Patti LaBelle will share time on the "Ever since the 'Motown 25' special, black music." As proof, he cites the 12 Michelob, 15 Soft Sheen and 15 this package's appeal hasn't waned. number of major new tours hitting Budweiser dates. In August and The success of the current Tempta- the road and the durability of ongo- September there will be a special tions album has had no real effect ing tours. funk -oriented Budweiser package on ticket sales. An older audience New Edition, Rick James, Teena that will include the Bar -Kays, that loved the old hits has supported Hometown Girls. After a recent appearance at the Universal Amphitheatre in Marie, Luther Vandross, Midnight Zapp /Roger and Con Funk Shun. that tour." Los Angeles, Klymaxx was given a proclamation honoring them, signed by Star, the Whispers, the Commo- "So far this year the biggest tour Mayor Tom Bradley. Seen backstage with the proclamation are, from left, MCA's dores and the Fresh Fest, featuring has been New Edition," says Wal- senior vice president of black music Jheryl Busby; Klymaxx members a package of top rap acts, are head- ters' partner Jerry Ade. In 50 dates Fenderella, Bernadette Cooper, Robin Grider, Cheryl Cooley, Lynn Malsby and lining tours that either are now on at 5,000- to 10,000 -seat venues, the Lorena Porter; and MCA's director of black a &r Louil Silas. the road or will go out within the group has played to more than next two months. In addition, Shala- 350,000 patrons. Rappers the Fat mar, Klymaxx, Process & the Doo Boys and Whodini opened the tour's Rags, the Mary Jane Girls, the Bar - first six weeks. "This summer we're Kays, Zapp /Roger, Con Funk Shun taking them to middle America," and the Commodores will appear as says Ade, noting that New Edition part of larger tours. The Budweiser, will play state fairs and parks. In to- Michelob and Kool Jazz festivals tal, Ade estimates, New Edition will HYTHME LUES will be joined by a Soft Sheen con- perform 150 dates in 1985. by Nelson George cert series aimed at black consum- Midnight Star's "Interplanetary ers. Invasion" tour has just been extend- "Pop radio is playing more black ed 10 weeks and "would go on long- WHAT EVER HAPPENED to Jeffrey Daniels? That Sly ( "America," "Tambourine "), and some just won- music," Walters notes. "There is no er if the band didn't have production has been a popular question ever since the ex -"Soul derfully weird ( "Temptation," "A Condition Of The Michael Jackson tour around to pull commitments," Ade says. Opening Train" dancer left Shalamar, relocating to England, Heart," "The Ladder "). To these ears, all the music those big dollars out of the market- dates on this Solar label package where he was always very popular. The singer has re- sounds mighty fine, something that could not be said place. A lot of motion pictures are are Shalamar and Klymaxx, each of portedly made some records, none of which have made of "Purple Rain." putting black music into their their whom have been touring outside it to these shores. He has received some notice in the Those looking for singles should try the pop -funk of soundtracks, and the perception of this package. British press for his role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Pop Life," highlighted by some beautifully in -the- crime at black concerts, something Luther Vandross is doing 60 cities English musical hit "Starlight Express," portraying pocket trap drumming by Shelia E., and the sweetly that was a problem a few years ago, and 150 dates this year. He hits the an electric train in the show's elaborate production melodic "Raspberry Beret." Though Prince makes a has lessened. road June 1 and should continue numbers. rather big deal of his confusion between lust and love All these factors have added to there until December. Significantly, Now, in a remarkable coincidence, Daniels has land- (which God, finally, sets him straight about in a hu- white attendance at black concerts, in most markets, Vandross is mov- ed a position that could make him a major figure on morous conversation), the socially conscious lyrics of along with a resurgence in black at- ing up from the 5,000 -seaters of his the British music scene and give him visibility in the "America" and "Pop Life" show that Prince Rogers tendance. The economy is still hurt- previous tour to arenas. U.S. as well. He has been chosen by the staff of Chan- Nelson is more aware of the world than might be sus- ing blacks, but they seem to have Rick James goes out with the nel 4 in England to host the British version of "Soul pected. now been able to find the money to Mary Jane Girls, Process & the Doo Train," known there as "6:20 Soul Train" due to the attend concerts again." Rags and a new James -produced time of the day it airs. Daniels' selection was done SHORT STUFF: Los Angeles session keyboardist The corporate- sponsored tour opening act, Val Young. James and without the knowledge of Don Cornelius, the man be- Denzil Miller co- produced and arranged saxophonist season begins in San Diego June 7 -8 company will work for five months, hind the original "Soul Train." George Howard's current TBA album, "Dancing In with the Kool Jazz Festival. Appear- beginning July 1. The Sun" ... Mango artist Ini Kamoze is touring the ing there will be Earl Klugh, Kly- The Commodores, just off a Euro- West Coast, with dates in San Francisco, Los Angeles maxx, the Dazz Band, Shalamar, pean tour, have been playing col- Jeffrey Daniels hops and San Diego ... J. Blackfoot's new Sound Town al- the Commodores, Midnight Star, leges and smaller halls in the U.S. bum "Physical Attraction" has just been released . Jeffrey Osborne, Patti LaBelle, the They may be the opening act on on the U.K. `Soul Train' Deodato has produced an artist with the rather famil- Gap Band and Luther Vandross. Vandross' tour. iar handle ET for Posse Records. The single is called There will be seven Kool dates in The Fresh Fest starts in June and "Hurt Me With Your Love." The lyric is self- explana- July, with concerts being held in will be on tour for 12 weeks with According to his assistant Trish Steed, Cornelius, tory ... MCA, which has been quite successful with Orlando, Atlanta, Memphis and Cin- rappers Run -D.M.C., Whodini, Kur- who founded "Soul Train" and co- produces the British young signings (New Edition, Ready For The version, found out about it when Daniels called collect World), has a most intriguing female act in Cheyne. from England. "6:20 Soul Train" began broadcasting The lady is sort of a black, punky Madonna, and her April 12. Thirteen shows have been ordered, with such single, "Call Me 'Mr.' Telephone," was produced by popular black British acts as Loose Ends and Cash- Mark Kamins, Madonna's first sponsor ... For a list- mere having already appeared. Aside from showcas- ing to be included in Billboard's June black music spe- ing current artists, the British version will integrate cial, black video outlets should send their address, vintage "Soul Train" material into the broadcast. telephone number and a sample playlist to Nelson Clips from both countries will be traded between George at Billboard's New York office. the shows, and Daniels, last seen in the U.S. bopping LeVert, the young band fronted by O'Jay Eddie through Shalamar's "Dead Giveaway" video, will be LeVert's son Gerald, has just had its debut album, "I featured in much of the footage from overseas. So Get Hot," issued on Harry Coombs' Tempre label. Fa- Daniels is now set to become something of an interna- ther Eddie and another O'Jay, Walter Williams, con- tional video star. It will be interesting to see what tributed to the production, along with Coombs, Gerald Daniels looks like, since he has always been a flam- LeVert and Dexter Wansel . .. Though Capitol has boyant dresser, and this show will certainly be a pow- been putting the big push behind "Read My Lips," erful vehicle for influencing style on both sides of the from Melba Moore's album of the same name, the bet- Atlantic. ter record might be "When You Love Me Like This," a smoothly danceable duet between Moore and label- WORD ON THE STREET has been that Prince's mate Lillo Thomas.